Violent Criminal Threat (VCT) Branch

Violent Criminal Threat (VCT) Branch Significant Weekly Report July 3, 2020 MAJOR OPERATIONAL MATTERS: Squad C-20: SSA C-20. 50D-NY-3027571 • Jeffrey Epstein; Child Sex Trafficking; SDNY; C/A(s) SA On 712/2020, FBI NY and FBI Boston arrested Ghislane Maxwell at her residence in Bradberry, NH. Maxwell will make her initial appearance in District of New Hampshire. On 06/29/2020, Maxwell was indicted in SDNY on six counts of: enticing minors to engage in illegal sex acts, transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity, two conspiracy related charges, and two counts of perjury. Maxwell helped Jeffrey Epstein recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse multiple girls, as young as 14 years old. Det. C-20; 305D-NY-3273542; Joshua Fried a/k/a Empireforeverl; Brooklyn, NY; Possessors of Child Pornography; IINI-NY; EDNY; C/A SA Mike Buscemi: On 6/30/2020, FBI NY executed a search warrant, authorized by the EDNY, on Joshua Fried's cell phone in Brooklyn, NY. Agents seized Fried's cell phone and he confessed to Agents he had viewed child pornography in Kik group chats. By way of background, in May 2020, FBI Milwaukee identified Kik user "Empireforeverl" as Joshua Fried. Fried has been in communication with a FBI OCE as part of a Milwaukee Group 1 investigation. The user empireforeverl was a member of the Kik group "teeny tiny tots," which has been established as a child sexual abuse material sharing group on Kik Messenger. Within this group, the user received multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse material. In a private message conversation with the user empireforever1, the user told two OCE's he has two daughters. The user then sent several images of two prepubescent females approximately 3 to 6 years old claiming they were his daughters. The user went on to tell the OCEs that he has had multiple men ask him to come over and engage in sexual activities with his daughters. The investigation is ongoing. C-20; 305A-NY-2180576; Craig Roffman AKA "trenffaeqo" (Kik User); New York, NY; IINI- NY; SDNY; C/A SA Matt Deragon On 7/2/2020, FBI NY executed a search warrant, authorized by the SDNY, at the residence of Craig Roffman, in New York, NY. Roffman was initially arrested by NYPD in 2006, then again in 2017 by the FBI NY. Roffman was currently out on bail pending his scheduled trial in September 2020. In June 2020, a FBI Knoxville OCE received CSAM from Kik user "boysweets". "boysweets" confessed to OCE that he was the user of Kik account "craigs_list_list" who was the subject of captioned investigation. FBI KX provided this information to FBI NY ultimately resulting in the search warrant. Squad C-26: SSRA Brendan Kenney C-26; 356E-NY-3284592; UNSUB(S); VICTIM-CRAIG SAUNDERS (DECEASED); MURDER;. WHITE PLAINS, NY; VCA; C/A(s) SA Justin Gray, TFO Daniel O'Malley; On 06/26/2020, C- 26 located and recovered YAVENS VICTORIA, a missing juvenile and a suspect in the homicide of CRAIG SAUNDERS, at an address in Mount Vernon, NY. VICTORIA was subsequently interviewed by White Plains Police Department about the homicide. White Plains Police Department (WPPD) requested C-26 provide assistance in the investigation of the homicide of CRAIG SAUNDERS which occurred on 06/20/2020. SAUNDERS was shot in the public lobby of 33 Fisher Court, a public housing development in White Plains, which fits the EFTA00174120 definition of a place of public use as defined in the DIOG. Subsequent investigation by WPPD identified a possible suspect as YAVENS VICTORIA, a 15 year old male. On 06/25/2020, VICTORIA's parents reported him missing to the WPPD. VICTORIA's parents have not seen VICTORIA since the evening of 06/24/2020, prior to the homicide. C-26; 192B-NY-3248561; UNSUB(S); ARBEN CAKA & LEONARA CAKA-VICTIMS; HOBBS ACT ROBBERY; C/A(s) SA Justin Gray, TFO Jimmy Menton: On 07/01/2020, C-26 obtained a SDNY arrest warrant for STEVE HUNT via a complaint for Hobbs Act Robbery, Hobbs Act Robbery Conspiracy and Firearms Offenses. C-26 plans to arrest HUNT on 07/08/2020. On 06/30/2020 and 07/01/2020, C-26, Westchester County Police Department (WCPD) and Mount Vernon Police Department (MVPD) conducted surveillance on two addresses in Mount Vernon where HUNT and his crew sell marijuana and according to MURRAY hold guns. During the surveillance on 06/30/2020, MVPD stopped and arrested one buyer and on 07/01/2020 MVPD arrested two marijuana buyers. Surveillance is planned for 7/3/2020 and 7/6/2020 to obtain additional evidence. C26 and/or MVPD will use the information from the surveillances and arrests to obtain search warrants on the two addresses to be executed on 07/08/2020. On 03/02/2020, a gunpoint home invasion occurred at 3 Oakley Place, Apartment A3, Mount Vernon, NY. LAVAUGHN CAMPBELL, KLEON MURRAY, and two additional males cut power to the apartment before forcing entry into the residence of ARBEN and LEONORA CAKA and demanding money. The gunmen pistol whipped ARBEN during the robbery before fleeing after ARBEN attempted to stab one gunman. Subsequent investigation by C-26 determined the robbers were attempting to steal thousands of dollars belonging to ARBEN's son, DANIEL, which had been secreted in the residence and were the proceeds of identity frauds. DANIEL was not home during the robbery. CAMPBELL and MURRAY were arrested on 05/05/2020. Investigation later identified STEVE HUNT as one of the males involved in the home invasion. C-26; 50D-NY-3250808; SHINNELL TAYLOR; CHILDRENS VILLAGE; SEX TRAFFICKING:, C/A(s) SA Karma Smith, SA Pao Mei Fisher: On 07/01/2020, C-26 located and recovered SHINNELL TAYLOR at a residence in Yonkers, NY. NYSP obtained information from Children's Village that ALIVIA THOMPSON was arranging dates for TAYLOR during which TAYLOR would have sex with males in exchange for money or marijuana. TAYLOR went missing from Children's Village on 6/28/2020 and Westchester County Police Department (WCPD) requested the assistance of the FBI to recover TAYLOR. C-26 attempted to interview TAYLOR with WCPD but TAYLOR was unwilling to provide any substantive information. The captioned case was initiated based on a request from Westchester County PD in March 2020 to assist in the location of ALYSSA SETTLE, 16 years old, and ALIVIA THOMPSON, 18 years old. SETTLE and THOMPSON eloped from Children's Village, a residential treatment facility, on 03/18/2020 and were reported missing. SETTLE was at Children's Village under court order and was a known underage sex trafficking victim, previously trafficked by Bloods gang members. THOMPSON was voluntarily at Children's Village and was also a known underage sex trafficking victim. TAYLOR was a known sex trafficking victim at Children's Village under court order and was the subject of a closed minor sex trafficking Guardian. SETTLE and THOMPSON were both located on 03/03/2020 by C-26 and interviewed regarding sex trafficking. SETTLE fled the facility again in April 2020 with TAYLOR and they were recovered by C-26 on 04/16/2020 in New Rochelle at the residence of a known Bloods gang member and returned again to Children's Village. SETTLE fled again and was recovered by C- 26 on 06/10/2020. SETTLE was returned to the custody of Woodfield Cottage Detention Facility. EFTA00174121 C-26; 7C-NY-3285576; NAJERA Y NAJERA GELVER; VICTIM- DAYLI GARRIDO RAMIREZ !MINOR); SPRING VALLEY, NY CHILD ABDUCTION (NO RANSOM); C/A(s) Pao Mei Fisher SA Moises Hassell: On 06/28/2020, Spring Valley Police Department (SVPD) requested C-26 help them locate DAYLI GARRIDO RAMIREZ, a minor. On 06/29/2020, C-26 along with SVPD recovered RAMIREZ at an address in Spring Valley, NY. RAMIREZ was with NAJERA Y NAJERA GELVER, 29 years old, who admitted during an interview to having sexual intercourse with RAMIREZ approximately 15 times. GELVER was arrested and charged with Rape 3rd degree in the state. C-26 is investigating to see if GELVER can also be charged federally for enticement of a minor. New case opened after SVPD requested C-26 assist is looking for DAYLI GARRIDO RAMIREZ. On 06/21/2020, SANTOS MORALES GARRIDO, DOB 07/01/1960, the parental guardian of RAMIREZ reported RAMIREZ as a missing juvenile. RAMIREZ told GARRIDO that she was running away to live with her boyfriend. SVPD had information that RAMIREZ's boyfriend was an older male. Squad C-32: SSRA Jed Salter C-32; 356E-NY-NEW; TAVARES STACKHOUSE; OCDA; C/A(s) SA Tom Anderson, TFO Joe Strack, and TFO Nick White: On 06/27/2020, The City of Newburgh Police Department requested assistance from the HVRA SSTF for a stabbing homicide which occurred at the Newburgh recreational pool. HVRA SSTF conducted interviews, canvassed for witnesses and video surveillance and assisted in the identification of perpetrator as Tavares Stackhouse. Stackhouse was arrested that same day and charged by the Orange County District Attorney's Office with 2n° degree murder. C-32; 192B-NY-328515; BROADWAY LIQUORS; SDNY; C/A(s) SA Andrei Petrov, TFO Myra Rude, TFO Frank Pierri, and TFO Mike Sisia: On 06/30/2020, members of the HVSSTF, City of Newburgh Police Department, and the Town of Newburgh Police Department conducted surveillance of suspect MARK JONES. JONES was surveilled to Walmart in the Town of Newburgh, NY. Investigators observed a unique bag used during two armed robberies in the back of JONES' car. A probable cause arrest was made of JONES when he departed Walmart. A search of JONES' car resulted in the seizure of an imitation firearm and knife which were used in both robberies. A search of JONES' residence yielded the clothing worn in both robberies. JONES subsequently confessed to both robberies. JONES has three violent felony convictions and served 23 years in state prison. He is being charged with Hobbs Act robbery in SDNY-White Plains. Squad C-41: SSRA Michael Lewis C-41: 245D-NY-215459: Operation WhipKick: C/A(s) SA Derrick Acker, SA Derek Wonderland: On 7/1/2020, C-41 investigators obtained a 9 count indictment in EDNY against Bloods member Rufus DAVIS, aka RuRu that included a charge for the Distribution of Narcotics Causing Serious Physical Injury. DAVIS is a prolific drug dealer in Suffolk County that is believed to be responsible for multiple overdose deaths. In the current indictment, he is charged with a non-fatal overdose where the victim only survived as a result of emergency medical intervention. DAVIS is facing a 20 year mandatory minimum sentence. He is presently incarcerated on unrelated State charges and will be transferred to Federal custody for arraignment in the coming days. On 7/2/2020, C-41 working with the East End Drug Task Force secured an indictment in EDNY against Bloods gang leader Kareem LEMAY, aka Showtime, on crack cocaine and fentanyl EFTA00174122 conspiracy charges. LEMAY is believed to be one of the highest ranking Bloods member on Long Island. LEMAY is facing a 5-40 year sentence and investigators plan to supersede at a later date with additional counts (sentencing guidelines will be 15-life). LEMAY is currently in State custody on an unrelated weapons charge and will be transferred to Federal custody for arraignment. TRIALS / PLEAS / SENTENCINGS: Squad C-45: SSA Donald Anspacher C-45: 281D-NY-293815: UNITED BLOOD NATION - NINE TREY GANGSTAS: EDNY: C/A SA Bryan Gee: In July 2019, SPENCER JEAN was convicted at trial on charges of Hobbs Act Robbery, Discharge of a Firearm, and Attempting to Intimidate a Government Witness. Sentencing is currently scheduled for 07/15/2020. Prior to and since trial ended, while incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York, JEAN has made numerous attempts through family members, friends, and other third parties to make contact with government witnesses who testified at trial in an effort to intimidate and coerce them to recant their testimony. On 06/26/2020, an unknown individual visited a government witness' residence to drop off trial related paperwork on the doorstep and vandalized the witness' vehicle by keying the word "SNITCH" on the side of the vehicle. Through further investigation, the case agent learned that JEAN coordinated this by placing telephone calls via cellphone from his jail cell. As a result, the case agent initiated a pen register on the suspected cellphone that JEAN was utilizing and submitted a request to MDC investigators to have JEAN's jail cell searched in an effort to recover the cellphone. A search warrant was also executed on a cellphone utilized by another individual in direct communication with JEAN. Lastly, a pole camera was installed outside the residence of the witness that was threatened in an effort to identify the unknown individual and any other individuals that may visit the witness' residence in the future. The case agent is currently in coordination with EDNY on indicting JEAN on additional witness tampering charges. Technique/Stat Violent Criminal Threat Branch C Current Title Ill's 33 Current Group l's 1 Current Group Irs 2 Current GPS 11 Current Pen Registers 124 Arrests (YTD) 384 Convictions (YTD) 113 Information (YTD) 14 Indictments (YTD) 231 Disruptions/Dismantlement (YTD) 79 EFTA00174123 EFTA00174124